The Metropolitan Police are treating the assault of two Muslim men outside of the Sri Lankan Muslim Community Centre of East Ham on Pilgrims Way as a racist hate crime.
The assault took place yesterday evening at 9 pm as worshippers attended iftar.
According to the Evening Standard, eyewitnesses reported that around 15 European males arrived outside of the mosque armed with bottles, wooden sticks, fluorescent light tubes, beer bottles, and stones.
Injuries to the two Muslim men came from broken glass which did not require hospitalisation, according to a spokesperson for Scotland Yard.
The Evening Standard also reported that the perpetrators attempted to start fires by lighting the contents of bins, resulting in charred documents.
A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said: “Police were called to reports that a group of men in Pilgrims Way, armed with bottles and hockey sticks, had attacked members of the mosque.”
Those responsible had fled the scene before the police arrived, and the investigation remains ongoing.
As protocol, we are re-issuing our personal safety tips and advice guides for mosques, and urge that they are adhered to as worshippers remain vigilant – you can download safety advice from our Resources section.
Tell MAMA is liaising with the Met Police on this serious incident further and we will endeavour to provide further updates where possible.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 7482/19APR. Members of the public can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to report anonymously.
UPDATE 21/04: The Met Police have confirmed to Tell MAMA that they are providing additional reassurance patrols.
UPDATE 22/04: We have again spoken with the Met Police about the horrific assault on worshippers outside of the Sri Lankan Muslim Community Centre of East Ham on Pilgrims Way. We can confirm that the Met continues to investigate it as a racially aggravated hate crime – as we push for a religious hate element also.
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Tell MAMA have again spoken with the Met Police about the horrific assault on worshippers outside of the mosque in East Ham.
We can confirm that the Met continues to investigate it as a racially aggravated hate crime – as we push for a religious hate element also.
— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) April 22, 2022
Or, if you prefer that we at Tell MAMA contact the Metropolitan Police anonymously or on your behalf, get in touch via our website, or call our freephone on 0800 456 1226.